The Sun. — London, England, 1810-09-29 00:00:00

[ Tail L FO It Rl' TS IN CHESTER. THE KING V. GE;)itGs TANTLOIt, ALEX. 51`,GREGOR, EVNNi, GILL, JOHN GUU,GII, AND JAMES A NE.1"1%. , On Saturday mornin g last, the above cause came , on at the Castle of - Chester, before Chief Justice - DALLAS, Justice Bu tiToN, and a spwcial Jury. Mr. WILLLIMi having opened the case, Mr. BaNvoN, for the prOsecntions!ated, that this was an infortnation directed by the _Court of King's Bench, against the persons above-named, for a riot, commitied in the city of Chester on. the Oth Jan.. 8 t 0". The Learned Counsel proceeded to sta e what consituted a riot accordiog to the meaning of the law..-!--"lWhen three persons or more shall assemble themselves together, with an intent mutually to as sist each other aga . ,nst any on 6 who shall oppose than • in the execution of 'any enterprise of a private nature, with force and vidlence against the peace, and to the manifest terror o'f• the people, whether the act intended were of itself lawful or . unlawful ; if they only meet to satili• a purpose or intent, altliou;h they shall after depart of their own accord without doing ail thing, this is au unlawful as sembly." It become his duty to state, not only the names of the parties implicated, but also the situations they held. Taylor was clerk to Lord GrosVenors chief seward—M`Gregor was overlo.,ker to his Lord ship's works now carrying on at Eaton—;.EVatis was Wiilitf or colledor of retvs for his Lordship—Gill, a const.ible Of the . citx—Gough, a earter--Land Amer, huatruati at Lord Grosvenor's terry,'at • Eaton. • The Learned Gentleman said, that however averse he Weas to en - ter into the hical politics of the city, yet Me telt himself compelled to do so, as without some explanation .41 this point, it would be . impossible to tender his case intelligible to the Jury. He was de legated ty the Crokt n to toy bet ote the Court the dangerOos consequences of •the riotous conduct of the. men implicated, and was sure that the respect able Gentle:ben 01 the Jury, many of whom he had the honour of knowing, would not be actuated in their'Verilict by any colsideratiobs but those of im partialt y and justice. As all men were influenced by gnomic', ii must be evident, that these -rioters had an object by which-they were governed. To gite a clear view f this object, it was therefore necessary to observe, that in 180, 'when a General Election took look place, a very iespedable Gentleman '(Co lonel Haninei) 'offered himself as Representative for the city, with General Grosvenor (the other Mem ber ha v tno resigned) ) , Mr. Egeriou, of Oulton, a Gentleman well knot n, but nu further known than • respected, also otivred himself • 48 a Represewative, be . ,presitt.red in oppositiun to Colonel Hamner, _ and Was returned toY4liametit by the citizens, whom • he now represents. The citizens or -Chsster, as naiUr f tl, considered they had 'gained a trptupb int.he return of Mr.. Egerton; in favour of freedom • and' independence. The Learned Gentleman said .that public opinion +.%ai entitled to respect, and it was to . be supposed (hit that opinion Would discSyer , EVrly ‘in t lividu,ll had a feeling, and the cause of freedom was a stil*,t they Rot onlY 'might, but ought to indulge in—a blessing to be - ti;hly valved, and dearly loved. Hence it was, the, ne'wsimpers celebrated the eletit—the theme *ai echoed and re-echoed by the freemen.; and it was the operation . of this leivour,', that produced a song, of which the Court would hear much here ' alter, called the Glorious Sixth of May, (the day un which INlt'.Egc.rtonwas returned to,Parliainent) and which had been set to music..l.l4 had seen this song, and could. discover nothing in it, the least offensive, and he undetstOod his leJrved Ft lend (Mr. Yates) had not only beep the bOn -- g, but heard the music also, of which be had gi.ven hint soiavourable a report;, that not hayitig much time to attend c.oncerts hunselt, he felt inclined to have the tune set to a baud organ for tits own amusement. N9w, said Mr. Benyon, Miss Holliwell having engaged the Theatre, for a concert solely with a eitew of benefiting herself, announced in her printed bills, that this song, being such a favourite with the citizens of Cl . :esier, would constitute. part of the perlortnance. h its conceit was fixed for the 3d of .I,lnuar),„ in the .pre,etsit year. Although no eels of violence were committed on that et ening, yet a party had placed themselves in the pit, and greatly annoyed the performance. e concert was again advertised for the 12th of January, and this song again announced. It was ou.the.evenitig of this day, • that the riot for which the defendapts stood indicted, took place, and tie should take the liherty of stating some of the prin cipal oLcurrences, before by ceded witnesses .to sub stantiate the facts. Betweeti tour and five o'clock in the afterueun, a, met) etitertd Haedbridge, ,con tie, nig nearly of one huedred persons, and coinpu,ed pi incipally ot, countrymen, labeurers, who. were soon joined by a number of strip-carpenters. eLa) lor, the clerk of Lord Gru:.venor'.s chief stew ear, appeared to be commander in .chef of this mob, and .i.Vl`Gre gor, overlooker or his Lordstip's works at Eat on, ranked second in cue:ma:id. They had marched tt.ese forces from E.ccieston, and were themselyes at the head of tbetreon horseback. In Hatidbridge. the mob halted, and were treated wilts liquor at . a public-house !bele. It was - evident that this assetn blage was not.. prorni,cuoudy , collected together. They had a certain object to accomplish, and for this purpose,- there was a regular systima:ic plan, nu& comsputiqjtig, arrangements; this was an or iranized force of horse and foot, armed with sticks and. bludgeons,. and provided with clappers; and' other in trutnents of entice nee ; had tickets for the concert purChased for them, and distribut ed atnongSt them. The Learned Counsel proceeded to state, drat on leaving the. publiC-house in Hand bridge, they proceeded towards the city in,a tumul tuous ;eel riotous procession, shouting and brandish-, ing their clubs, preceded by theitetwo champion's abo.e named on tiorsebac . k.—On their progress up bridge-so - tet, Alley were met by the chief magistrate near the Feathers-Inn, who accosted Taylor,, re monstrated with hint, and requested him to desist. —His worship said, " i3rd you kpoW me i" Taylor replied, " Yes, you are the Mayor."—He did not LONDON : Printed by RICIIAR the SUN.OFTICE, care./ damn: He' said, he came tb ead the mob, arm' he would lead lhezz . on. Taylor and M'Gregor hav ing put up theirlhorsi!Mthe Feathers-Inn, preceed ed with the mob up Notthgate-street,, passed the - Theatre, shouting, liallOoing:ituzzaing, and voci ferating Grosvenor for ever. They had a dry.sub je& in hand-'-=a dry cause (for certainly the cause of - anti-independence is a dry cau , e,) and they were taken io the Bull and Stirrup public-house; in fur ther Northgate-street, where plentiful libations were again -administered', to keep up their courage, and render them equal. to' the task they had in view.— It was here that these veterans were again marshall ed by their intrepid' leaders, and array g-d in march ing at ray, by two' and taco, right and left—On their arrival in thia order at the front of the Theatre, Tay lor harangued the mob, which had now increased to a vast multitude ; and, said the learned gentle man, the sehtunent which he- uttered,. 'on such an occasion, excited in hith, and must in ail who heard it, the most complete nausea and disgust—a.-senti ment which had 13.,.en expressed by the iturnottal Nelson, when be led his - Countrymen to_bittle and %idory, to conquest and glory. That• sentiment was well known, Englund expeas every man to do his Duty—That sentiment, worthy of a better cause, had been borrowed for the worst of purpose's, and in Taylor's mouth run thus:—Eaton expeEls every mtln to do his duly—Such, indeed, v as the tree,:- rooted determination in the rioters to carry their purpose, that in the course of the evening, expes• sions had been used ai which he shuddered and was .app alled.lt had b een publicly declared, by one of them, that sooner titan they would sull'er the Sixth of Nay to be' . sung, they would have blood Or their supper ti ! .The learned counsel' did not en ter into detail as to the • particular ads of the other loth` persons named in the indictment, as they would .appear on the examination ot wit nesses. He had no hesitation, however, in say : mg, that every feature in - the present case, bore every charisteriqic of a riot. It was not necessary to shew, in order to prove a riot, that blows ha`d been struck, though in this instance . blows did ensue, and if murder had followed, every on e o f them would have been liable to a forfeiture of his life. It would be observed, that this was not .a con test between Mr. Egerton and Lord Grosvenor but between the .peaceable citizens of Chester„and the disturbers of the public peace. A meeting of -the inhabitants had. been convened by public adtertise 7 men t, and resolutions to prosecute the rioters entered into. [Here he read the advertisement, convening the meetingl: Application to the had in consequence been made by his Majesty's At torney General for a criminal information. That . Court had direded the' cause to' be, tried here ; and on its issue depended the future safety of the peaceable inhabitants of this city; Mr. B. concluded by observing, that he lett ale verdict with the en lightened gentlemen of the Jury, and he Was certain the citizens of Chester would repose in them the most unqualified confidence. ROBERT Huouns elattined by Mr. CROSS. . R.Anembers the disturbance in Chester on the 12th January. About half past five in the evening was in his stable in Pepper-street, and heard a great noise, , a multitUde shooting, as proceeding from Bridge -street, and Went towards- St. Michael's church where he perceived a great crowd, amount ing to about 120 .or 130. Saw two men no horse back, preceding the mob, who followed close afer, and . were very tumultuous--Is sure the two men on horseback were Gito.TaYlor, and telex. M`Gregor. The mob proceeded up Bridge-street, as tar as the Fealhers, where they halted -- when Taylor and M'Gregor grit off their horses, and left them at the 'Feathers; heat(' the Mayor called for, and Ist:ard the people s , y,--"ll deem him, never heed him, (mean ing the Mayor) let us go on." They went up towards, and passed the Theatre, waving and bra:lEl3lring their sticks; some of which appealed to be fresh cut, others were walking sticks. Followed the mob to the Bull and Stirrup; Taylor and others went in, the rest remaining before the door. 'Witness. also went in, drink was given in the house, and at the door: Does not know who gave . it, but it was gratis.— Saw M'Gregor opposite the Theatre, with a bun dle of tickets, which he was giving away. He gave witness a ticket, and at same time said, " You know what to do," or something like it. M`Gregor told him, he was employed at Eaton-hall. Mob came again down 'Northgate-street. They were arranged two by two, but the rear - not so well organized. Saw Taylor with them, waving and brandishing sticks oyer . Aheir heads. M`Gregor joined them. Heard clappers, such as farmers have to frighten the birds. The passage to Cte Theatre was soon filled, and witness heard somebody say, if the door was not opened;" they': would break it open. Saw Gough and 0111 there. Saw a light carried from the passage to the pit. Many rushed in, .and some were, in the pit, some in the boxes, and others on the stage, hollowing out---" Grosvenor for ever." — They Mostly appeared country Men, dressed in wag goners' frocks and jackets. Saw one man piatig the' benches.. Observed two Well-dressed men,' who inquired what all that noise was about—witness re plied, he supposed they were iebels from Eaton. It was not safe to be amongst them. He was hiniself threatened, and left the place.—They *ere not all Eaton rebels, because he was there. P. HA ywoon,:gunsmith, sworn. By Mr. HILL.—Was Tit Chester I,2th January.— About six o'c:o6k heard t here ,was a great mob horn Eaton lathe Theat re. Went there and saw a riot ous tumult in the street.—Caine.home, and in about a•quarteer of an hour returned again. The mob had &eat!) , increased, appearing to be labourers and ship _carpenters, and shouting Grosvenor for ever.—Saw .Mr. Alderman Edwards, heard him say " It is a Shameful busittess, andthe riot act ought to be read," when Taylor from the shop steps of Mr. Bebington the chandler, replied, " Read t he not at, read the riot att —who dare read the riot ad—what has the riot ad to do with us ?" Alderma❑ &Wards then went owards the Cross, and 'tailor retired into Bebington's counting-house, behind the shop. Taylor c.me forward again, and called for a printed hand-bill of the performance, and said, they would an , noutice to theka the time when the doors should be I) HARRIS. of Na. 4, Martiett-court, 1:ow-street ; and POI No. IP.?, Straod. where Advertisements-, Orders for t] or ery and if they were rot , opered he wl Uhl brcak their oven. He then . addressed. the snob from the " shop door,' and said, Eaton experts every man . to do his duty." They cheered him. He said, " Well, my lads„ be true, be strady. lo the cause, I'll die before I de , ert you:" Several of the mob shook halt& with him, and.again. applauded; and shout ed "' Eaton, a-hoy—Ecclesson, a-hoy." Cross examined by Mr. GLEED. . Believes peo r le of Ches►er much divided in fed politics, and Some threatened and turned out of 'heir houses. Followed ti; e mob down to the-Fea thers; heard one of the mob say d—n. them, we have suppressed their song ; we'll have one of our own. ROBERT JONES, Printer.. sworn. By Mr. WILLIANS.—On the 12th January, saw a great number ,of persons Coaling shouting up Bridge street, three of, them on horseb,:cls.—tritnessonly knew two of these, George Taylor and Alexander M`Gregor:—Several of the mob had sticks or blud geonS (one of these was produced in Court. It was a thick t:r end with a knotty held, and knouedi'also, in several parts, about 20 inches long) Saw Gill. — They appeared mostly country Men. Saw the Mayor lay bold of the bri , lle of Taylor's horse.--Tollowed the crowd to Northgate=street past the Theatre, and also when they retuined. Saw John'Gotigh amongst the mob.—Opposite the Shambles, saw them . thOia Taylor from their shoulders. . Taylor went into the passage of the Theatre, striking _the roof with`. his stick ; heard hiirl ask for a bill of 'the performanee to aseeitain the advertised hour. Saw M`Gregor distributing tickets to people ColleCted round .hint in the street. Saw .7olin Gough ;oreing open, the pit door, with a piece of irct' ebout the size of a com mon poke, resembling a crow. Cross-examined by Mr. D. F. JONES. Heard of a meeting .t;f the inhabitants of Ches. , ter, td consider the proptiety of taking le,gal mea sures against the . rioters. It was held at the Royal . Hotel Assembly :Ruoin. Colonel Bartiston was in the chair. Did not see the Mayor, nor, any of the tuwn Justices present. Understood the prosecution was carried on by the citizens at large.--•--In answer to a question, was not the Hotel an •i... - gerton-house, witness said he did not know., Believed both Eger ton's and Grosvenors went there. Are not Mr Eger ton's 'Committees held ihe , e ? He did not know. Did not Mr. Egerton's friends sometimes dine there? He believed they did. • • By Mr. IN ILLIAms. Did you ever hjar of any.steps- Liken to bring theSe men below the Justices at the Town-hall ? Never heard of any notice taken of - it, nor of any mien tion.—Who does the Town-hall belong to ? 'Be lieves to the Corporation.—Are the Corporation Eaton men ? (Question objected to by the Court.) —To whom does the Corporation belong ? Witness hesitated, but believed Lord Grosvenor. John Tod swore to "ha% ing scen•Tayior -ne,ir the Feathers, and heard hip say to the Mayor Ile knew him, but did not care a Christopher 'Pokier (examined by • Mr., Cross) bugleman in the North Lincoln militia—was at his quarters in Handbridge„ about five O'clock in the e%ening of the 12th linuary, when ten or more men came into the house. Gill Was there. Order ed beer, and sajd Evans was to pay for it:- Saw Evans -also, Who asked had. they got any thing'to drink. Some inquired of Evans tor tickets, who said he thought he should not, have enow. The sixth of May was the subjeEt of discourse, and he heard some person say, if that song was sung, - they would have blood to 'their supper ! Evans . was iii the parlour at the same time. Thomas Orme Wati -at 'the pit passage. Saw M'Gregor at the theatre door dividing the parties. Hart him say to John'Craven; this is your door.— Saw John Evans in front of the pit passage. Heard him say, " Be steady—not a word, till the word start, and then to your duty.' William Haswell, printer, was in the theatre during the disturbance. Saw Arnett in the Thea , tre, standing at the top of the pit, guarding a candle, for fear of its being put out. He was knocked down by Arnett—l-tele the evidence for the prose:- cu cution closed. Mr. Yates shortly addressed the Jury for the de fence. •He said he was riot prepared to say the de fendants were not guilty of riot, according to the strict meaning of the law ; but he lamented that every little excess, in the heat •of party feeling, should be . . visited with extreme severity ; it ought not to be thus watched - and noticed. For his own part, he was friendly to the existence of party, and considered it as the only' means by which pi inciple • could be sustained. The song which was the cause Of the disturbance was must certainly a party song ; it was indeed the war whoop of the party opposedto that of Lord Grosvenor ; and he thought Miss Holli well herselfThighly: blamable in introducing it. AS to the disturbance itself, little or no violence was commitied ; except at the door of the theatre, and even that was occasioned by a refusal to open the door. He should have entered more fully the case, if the evidence had been open to ot,je lion ; but lie should forbear. Chief. Justice DALLAS addressed the Jury.. He observed, that the question they had io decide..was -a mew question of :fad. First, whether any riot bad be e n , committed, and then, whether the de fendants were concerted in it. Afer the evidence ' they had heard, it would be i mpossible to 9y that no riot had been committed ; and would be equally so w deny the defendants had, been coneern ed. As to Taylor and Al‘Gregor the most: pointed and direct evidence had been adduced, With regard to the different degrees of guilt iu each of;:..; pat ties, or the measure of ,punishment, neither Ininst-.lf or the Jury had any thing to do with. There_ might appe.ir circumstances of extenuation in snine, , ,qiielt it would be his duty to represent to the Court: of King's Bench, and which would cettaiuly be duly considered. All that the Jury had, to decide was, whether any or all Op •parties were guilty or , nor guilty. _ In a few minutes, the Jury gave their verdict-- 411 Guilty. Counsel for the prosecution, Mr..Benyon, Attor- 'bed by WILLIAM ARMIGER SCRII'VS, South Mcdton. he Paper, Lew.; for tha &c. (pcst-pqiq), .street, G rosvenor UN a re: t b.! add. 02z.d. ney General, Mr. Cros , , Mr. MI, Mr. NV. 110 1 4 Counsel for tlie'deircutiatits, Mr. Yates, Mr. Gleed► Mr, D. F. Jonei. • ' POLICE. ROW-STR BM —The Officers and .Ptro le belong' 'ing to, the above Office were extrettiely active in 3 1 ). p , elteuthlig the pickc.ockets-in the clowd, at the r loring of the Vert: smet gang. Old *Pullen, Who was-there, howe, Cr, escap:d ;heir vigilance, Samuel Ipooke %xas• brought by Lick, on 'Dine s ' .oay evening, to the Office, before Mr. Head, • Peter. Sticheil, of Peter -street, West dinsier, CO 2lj meter, said, that he Was-among the crowd in the Heymaiket, when he missed his. pocket-book on" ) ; his-coat-pocket, and .turning round;saw the pris°" e next to him, .When he charged him With having hi 3 pocket-brok. The prisoner held it up to hint, ing—" Is this Lour book ?" upon winch he tAIJI - -s_, him, and delivered him to Lack. Th e priso4itg. l " -. committed tor trial. • James Brown was brought by Edwards, 008 oar the patrole,, charged with being among the crow,' for the purpose of . picking pockets, who state" , that knowing him ,to be a reputel thi e f, he Wc.ftic . :up to him; when 'the prisoner made off; Pa r ; sued and secuted him, when O n a search he fo:In• .two silk handkerchiefs upon hint.—He was d'" - charged. . 4 young, man was brought by H.Adkins and neon, charged on snspicion of ,being in the crQ"'a r. •for the' purpose of picking pockets, which were induced to do from lics behaviour, and' i;n tltrir going qp to him, he told them:they were mi,takenv and that he Was an officer ; - they not giving credit to ' his assertion, proceeded to search him, at - 1100 1 d 3, constable's staff in his poi.ket. The waster of the . prisoner, attended, proved him to be. his appreinice, and gave him a good charader; but was tillable t" account for his having the staff, or pretending to VI a constable.—He Was discharged. 'John Tiegear, an assistant porter at the Saracen Head, 'Snow-hill, was brOughi to the Office,cllor ed w ith extorting eleven shilliugs and eleven-pence Irvin Mrs—Dawson, of York -street, Covent-garden, li° having ,charged her with that sum for the carri 33 and porterage of • . a hamper,-WhiCh, o n examination,proved only to contain stone'sand brick-bats. rll- ` ° weight of the haMper, and the charge:, in&ced D. to have it opened in the presence of the prisone r ' who said in his defence that he received it' from th i . regular porter, with other parcels, at i)Je top th ' Drury-lane, from a cart. Mr. READ ordered one of the patrole to take tb' e ' prisoner to the Saracen's,Head, to ascertain it he 114 ' longed to the Innovhich he did; it likewise apPe a r ed tlat the hamper had, come by the- Exeter,c o3 .l 4 brit that the charge for thc:, , carriage was Dly 9 5 ' ( 1 ' 1 ".; and.t bd.. -The 'haMper was . entered in time way bill ; but a mysteriGus discove r % was made that a parcel, containing agoos , : and so:n`, fowls, sent from Mrs. Dawson's husliand, w ho w' i in Yorkshire,` the day previous, to the same witch she regularly receaved, was no: in toe The eleven shillings and eleven-pence vas, understand, returned. to Mrs. D a . %soo yc•,tcrd"'' morning. MAIILBOROUGII-STREET, 7 --Two Votma WOO ' the names of Read and Coffee, were charg e ,`, with stealing a pocket ; book containing diver; Ivo; holes and bills . of 4 exCbange, the latteramounijog t a considerable sum-, the propthy of Carle Vaughan, Eig: It- appeared 'fin evidence, that th e prisotl e Z were doineEtics in" the house,; qnd on t h e 2411) Read, who was the servant of the house, went c tnake,the bed of the prosecutor, wh o was a Ita(V' r t ; and, at bet . request, Coffee, who . was se.o . ao t 1 1 another Ipdgerovent to assist her. Read. was 1,, ed down, and on her return to the other seco% she informed her that she bad.f6u n d a One pou Lt note, and- Read gave_it toter mistress. .Tne hrOSL cutor found that his. bureau had been broken Open' and the property, as stated, h a d b een stolen. 'Pl e b , ;were other circumstances of sus pi c i on agaiust t prisoners, and they were remanded. George CO vc o Jew, was fully committed for trial,'for ple 1 0„ Gentleman's pocket during the pilloring in the 01 ) . market. UNION. HALL.—On Thursday Henry Perkins Pa Thomas . Marson were charged by Daniel Pater o ' landlord of the Bell .public-house, Hig With 'assaulting and robbing him. Mr. Pater s° ,, stated that he Was passin g by th e M ag d a l en C° l ' xe ; hduse, BlackfriarS-road, .o n S un d a y morn ing 935 ; between one and two o'ciock, w h en severa l pers°l-1 n cne up to-liin), amongst_ whom' were the prison er s ; when, one of the gang knocked down, and IlL' ° ‘ ther stole his hat. • Sarah Juda, a woman. who lives in DOver-stre% stated, - that at the sam e time tiie;Same gang la ce open her shutters and broke I:e'r windows. • otO John Crcitts, of Wynyaq- st re e t, ISlington, to• passing arthetinie, , and Seeivg a crowd, wen t oP.,s. itiquire what the - limiter, , A , n,:n he was knOC k l e le down, and in the 'scu ffl e: his witeh was s tolen d was certain the pri , ‘oners - were - amongst the crow though he could not swear who knocked. hitn dow ° ' or who robbed him.. • Joseph 81-ane, another, young nian, who res t o f. in Arnold's Parragon, Walworth, was also pa. 51 6: it . the time, and -was knocked down ; be saw the prisoners amongst the web.. They were - counnitteu for further SHIP OR tV.IISEND, mr. 27. Arrived—the 13ellona, Green, /coal Alicant. ilaf?; f9r New . l3runsvvick • • ~ On. Wedpestl . ty motning last, at Chevening P.lrs°' oge • 'Kent, the Lady o-f the Rev. Rotyert 1 - IQdgii . on,•of s Soo• • Pit 'Thursday last,' at Serjeant's-tsin, kl e et-street , ._,H, Lady of Samuel Colnyli, - Esti: Barrfster at Law, of a Oa u b ter. . DIED. Cso 'Ol On the zrst inst. at Hastings, Fountain North, ,Rqugharn, in Norfolk. „, t h' Lately. Clifton lot. We) Is, Miss r. Jchanan, ortlY " 4 1 - iidOr ter ot Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanap, a the H0n...F.40 Company's Service. - • :•